Changing gears on gasoline cars was the most difficult part of driving. Electric vehicles did not require gear changes. While steam-powered cars also had no gear shifting, they suffered from long start-up times of up to 45 minutes on cold mornings. The steam cars had less range before needing water, compared to an electric car's range on a single charge.
The only good roads of the period were in town, which meant that most commutes were local, a perfect situation for electric vehicles since their range was limited. Electric vehicles enjoyed success into the s, with production peaking in For the following reasons, the electric car declined in popularity. It was several decades before there was a renewed interest in these vehicles. Electric vehicles had all but disappeared by The years following until the s were dead years for electric vehicle development and for their use as personal transportation.
Many attempts to produce practical electric vehicles occurred after The first Battronic electric truck was delivered to the Potomac Edison Company in This truck was capable of speeds of 25 mph, a range of 62 miles and a payload of 2, pounds.
Battronic worked with General Electric from to to produce utility vans for use in the utility industry and to demonstrate the capabilities of battery-powered vehicles. Two companies were leaders in electric car production during this time. Sebring-Vanguard produced over 2, "CitiCars. The other company was Elcar Corporation, which produced the "Elcar.
The History of the Electric Car | Department of Energy
In , the United States Postal Service purchased electric delivery jeeps from the American Motor Company to be used in a test program. These jeeps had a top speed of 50 mph and a range of 40 miles at a speed of 40 mph. Heating and defrosting were accomplished with a gas heater and the recharge time was ten hours. Share Flipboard Email. Mary Bellis, known by some as CalmX, was an experimental artist, film director and producer, video game content creator, and freelance writer for some 18 years.
Electric cars have been around since before the US Civil War
She specialized in writing about inventors and inventions, in particular. Bellis died in March Updated March 23, By the s, America had a better system of roads that connected cities, bringing with it the need for longer-range vehicles. The discovery of Texas crude oil reduced the price of gasoline so that it was affordable to the average consumer. For most Americans, cars are a favorite way to travel, but there will always be a need for other types of transportation. Courtesy of the National Museum of American History. The Ford Model T, made between and , cost less than other cars, but it was sturdy and practical.
It ran well on dirt roads and fields because it could twist as it rolled over bumps. The Model T looked like an expensive car but actually was very simply equipped. From to , it only came in black because black paint dried faster than other colors, making it possible to build and sell more Model Ts. For all of these reasons, more Model Ts were sold than any other type of car at the time—a total of just over 15 million. Farmers, factory workers, school teachers, and many other Americans changed from horses or trains to cars when they bought Model Ts.
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The gasoline engine has been reliable, practical, and fairly efficient since about It is easier to control than a steam engine and less likely to burn or explode. A gasoline car can go much further on a tank of gasoline than an electric car can go between battery charges.
The history of the electric car is longer than you might think
Gasoline engines have been improved by the use of computers, fuel injectors, and other devices. But growing concern about chemicals that gasoline engines release into the air i. The automobile collection attempts to include significant automotive milestones as cars changed from horseless carriages to an intrinsic part of American life.
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The Smithsonian has been collecting cars since , and almost all of them have been given by people or businesses. Early Cars: Fact Sheet for Children. Share Icon. Who made the first cars?
How did the first cars work? Who drove the first cars?
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Why do so many people use cars? What was different about the Ford Model T? Why do most cars today run on gasoline? How many cars are in the Smithsonian? Where can I see more early cars in person and on the Web? Where else can I find out about cars on the Web?
National Museum of American History.